Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaidō is best known for two things: winter sports and Sapporo beer. But the little known eastern side of the island is a dream escape at any time of year for the adventurous visitor, whether you’re into beer or not.<p>In eastern Hokkaidō wildlife wonders abound (is …

We all know that lodging can make a break or vacation, but staying somewhere unique - a tipi, say, or a giant bird's nest, or even spending the night underwater - can turn a humdrum holiday into an unforgettable trip.<p>America's entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds, and that includes one-of-a-kind …

Nowhere are the Alps more ravishing than in Switzerland. Rippling across 60% of the country, these phenomenal peaks look like ready-made Christmas cards when the flakes flutter and fall. But when every dinky Swiss village has a ski lift and local three-year-olds know their snowplough, how do you …

Lawyers and legislators keep Richmond buttoned up on weekdays. But on weekends? Downtown transforms into an urban adventure zone, especially along the James River: paddlers crash through Class III and IV rapids, mountain bikers rip down single tracks and climbers scramble across boulders, abandoned …

If you’re looking for a way to break free of the tourists milling about downtown Philadelphia, check out Queen Village. This walkable maze of narrow streets in South Philly is home to eclectic shops, cozy local restaurants, eye-catching architecture and, of course, historic sites.<p>Once a suburb of …

A cluster of urban villages surrounds the heart of Perth city. Each has its own distinctive personality, whether hipster, grungy, multicultural or trendy, turning an exploration of each into a fun observation of Western Australian society. These buzzing neighbourhoods are also where a bunch of the …

Lonely Planet Local Hahna Yoon was born in Seoul, lived in New York for 17 years and came back to South Korea eight years ago. She believes that Seoul is undoubtedly one of the best cities in Asia to explore, eat and drink.<p>Hahna recommends going beyond Seoul's major tourist destinations and …

The humble Yorkshire pudding may be its greatest culinary claim to fame, but England’s largest county is becoming increasingly sophisticated and experimental in the kitchen. Yorkshire’s award-winning produce is grown amid the dales and plucked from the North Sea to supply fiercely local delis and …

Just months after Hurricane Irma made landfall over Florida’s southwest coast, the region is again ready to welcome visitors looking to avoid the winter chill (not to mention the crowds in Orlando and Miami). Naples and neighboring Marco Island provide a perfect blend of city attractions and …

Washington DC’s world-class museums showcase everything from art to history to space to espionage. So it’s no surprise the shops in those museums hold a panoply of unusual gifts as well. At these 10 museums, we promise you won’t mind exiting through the gift shop (and if you’re not local, most …

Studded with famous food stalls, the maze-like alleyways and marketplaces of Old Delhi have been luring foodies for centuries, but there's more to Delhi street food than the <i>jalebi</i> (sweet dough) whorls and puffy <i>parathas</i> (fried bread) of Chandni Chowk.<p>Street food legends-in-the-making have mushroomed …

For all its colourful streetscapes, palate-tingling Bengali cuisine, vivacious neighbourhoods and buzzing craft and music scenes, Dhaka’s urban pressures can often take a toll on the body and mind of travellers. After all, the city’s traffic is arguably among Asia’s maddest, its culture of public</i> …

If you've already hit up Dubai’s theme parks, wandered around the Al Fahidi district and checked out the view from the Burj Khalifa, how about exploring some of the neighbouring emirates? You’ll find everything from mosques and museums to mountain bike trails and ziplines, all within easy reach of …

That award for best weather city? Minneapolis is 100% not winning it, given the long, wind-whipped winters and short-lived summers. But you won't catch locals hiding indoors. Instead, they gear up and head outside, where a slew of parks, trails, lakes and cultural activities beckon no matter the …

The <i>passages couverts</i> (covered arcades) of Paris are as beautiful as they are enigmatic. Tucked behind decorative archways, the historic shopping passages situated on the Right Bank exude a sense of city life before Baron Haussmann's wrecking ball brought in spacious boulevards.<p>Dating back to the …

Lonely Planet Local Deepika Gumaste was born in Mumbai and has lived in the city for nearly 30 years. Deepika’s work as a travel writer has taken her far and wide, but she insists that the most inspiring stories of human dreams, struggles and accomplishments are found in Mumbai.<p>The grand frontage …

Maybe it’s the herd mentality, but 90% of tourists heading to Mexico gravitate towards Cancún, Puerto Vallarta-Nayarit and other well-publicized bastions of beach life and potent margaritas. And while Mexico City itself is an incredible metropolis that makes a worthy visit, the country boasts epic …

Set along its storied namesake river, Rostov-on-Don is a geographic crossroads, standing at the historical border between Asian and European cultures and acting as a modern gateway between the Northern Caucasus and the Black Sea coast. It’s a city with Cossack roots and cosmopolitan inclinations – …

Prior to its 2014 debut on the world stage, Sochi was celebrated in Russia for its sunny skies and balmy temperatures, which attracted privileged Party members to seaside sanatoria. Even Comrade Stalin had a vacation home near this Black Sea coastal town. But the 2014 Winter Olympics revealed the …

Say the word ‘desert’ and chances are that rolling sand dunes and expansive horizontal space spring to mind. In Oman, however, the desert landscape includes a vertical dimension in the form of soaring limestone cliffs incised with canyons. Drive or hike along one of these narrow, arid defiles, and …

Ella Fitzgerald, the Andrews Sisters and Bob Dylan have all crooned the question: ‘how’d ya like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?’ This evergreen song sparks visions of faraway places with names as festive as the season it describes. Tempted to live out the lyrics for real? Then give …

You might have your eyes set on Transylvania for bucket-list bragging rights, but when it comes to travel around Romania, the western regions of Crişana and Banat are catching up and generating a buzz. With a slew of budget flights from Europe – and as natural stops for travellers coming overland …

Like many Rust Belt revival towns, Cincinnati is brimming with foodie-approved restaurants, shiny new arts venues and jazzy cocktail dens. But how many other cities have added a mushroom house, a singing bridge and an eye-popping neon treasure trove to the mix? Cincy goes beyond the norm, if you …

Lake Placid is one of the original classic American winter getaway towns, full of snowy sporting traditions and world-class events. When the air turns crisp, locals dress up Main Street in impeccable small-town style with winter decorations and twinkling lights and cozy interiors beckoning with the …

The Adirondacks are rightly known for high peaks, hidden lakes and impenetrable forests. Come wintertime, nature casts a snowy veil over the trees and mountains and everything is transformed. Summertime visitors wouldn’t recognize the place. Fortunately, the 9375 sq miles of protected parklands and …

It’s no secret that Philadelphia’s food scene is a thriving one: venerable institutions like Reading Market and the Italian Market sidle up against trendy farm-to-table spots and starred culinary establishments. What visitors may not realize is that much of the bounty on Philly’s splendid tables …

Brunch has taken on new meaning in the Middle East, evolving from a light late-morning meal into a veritable feast that spans long into the afternoon. You haven’t seen the best of Doha until you’ve experienced the party atmosphere of this regional institution alongside scores of merry expats. The …

If you want to vacation like the Swedish locals (and you do – they’ve made it an art), consider exploring Sweden’s west coast. As island-hopping goes, the Stockholm archipelago gets all the love from the travel brochures, but few places on earth can match the weatherbeaten beauty of the Bohuslän …

Gothenburg is Scandinavia’s largest port and sometimes lovingly referred to as Sweden’s ‘second city’. It’s best known for producing Volvos, but over the last couple of decades it has managed to reinvent itself as a modern travel destination.<p>Nowadays, cutting-edge design has replaced industrial …